30m went to a live gig last year

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Nearly four million people attended a music festival in the UK last year

More people are going to see live music than ever before, with attendance at concerts and festivals at an all-time high.

The total gig-going audience soared by 12% to 30.9m in 2016, according to UK Music, contributing £4 billion to the country’s economy.

But there was a 13% drop in the amount of money being spent at small venues – those with a capacity of under 1,500.

Those venues have been particularly under pressure in recent years.

The likes of London’s Astoria, The Boardwalk in Sheffield, The Arches in Glasgow and The Cockpit in Leeds have all closed, thanks to rising costs, pressures from property developers and strict licensing laws.

Image copyrightGetty Images

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Pop group Little Mix had the biggest-selling arena tour of 2016 in the UK

The chief executive of trade body UK Music, Michael Dugher, stressed that small venues were a “vital part of the live music industry”.

“UK Music will continue to campaign to safeguard smaller music venues, many of which are fighting for survival,” added the former Labour MP.

UK Music’s Wish You Were Here report also found that 4 million people attended a festival in 2016; and that 823,000 people travelled to the UK from abroad specifically to watch live music, spending an average of £850 per visit.

Since 2011, the UK has seen a 76% rise in music tourism – but the live music industry has expressed concerns that Brexit could negatively affect those figures.

Image copyrightLive At Leeds

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The UK boasts hundreds of festivals, from mega-brands like Glastonbury and Download, to smaller metropolitan festivals like Live At Leeds (pictured)

There are fears that artists might have to scale back European tours, especially if they are forced to apply for costly visas and £1,000 “carnet” documents – temporary import/export agreements – in order to transport equipment across borders.

It may also prove harder for European musicians, technicians and fans, to travel to the UK.

Mr Dugher said he would be “pressing the government” to limit the impact of Brexit on the industry.

Naomi Pohl, from the Musicians’ Union, said the body was campaigning “to have a single visa for the whole of Europe, so our members can continue to tour in the way that they do now”.

UK live music in numbers: 2016

30.9 million

Total audience for live music

3.9 million

Total festival attendance

27 million

Total concert attendance

18.4 million

Number of residents attending local music events

823,000

Tourists who came to the UK to see music

47,445

Full-time jobs sustained by music tourism

£850

Average expenditure by overseas music tourist

£150

Average expenditure by domestic music tourist*

* A domestic music tourist is defined as an event-goer who travels at least three times the average commuting distance to attend a show.